Rotatable armrest

Abstract

An armrest for a chair having a first member connected to the chair; a second member selectively rotatable relative the first member; means disposed between the first and second members for resisting the rotational movement between the first and second members.

I claim: 
     
       1. An armrest for a chair having:
 (a) a first member connected to the chair; 
 (b) a second member selectively rotatable relative the first member, 
 (c) a hinge damper disposed between the first and second members for resisting the rotational movement between the first and second members, about a vertical axis of rotation; 
 (d) wherein the hinge damper comprises a first portion engageable with the first member and a second portion engageable with the second member, and a torque resistor shaft disposed between the first and second portions; 
 (e) wherein the first member has a first recess for receiving the first portion; 
 (f) wherein the second member has a second recess for receiving the second portion. 
 
     
     
       2. An armrest as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one of the first and second members include low density plastic material resisting movement therebetween. 
     
     
       3. An armrest as claimed in  claim 2 , the hinge damper is disposed between the low density plastic material for permitting selective rotational movement between the first and second members and wherein the low density plastic material of the first member is spaced from the low density material of the second member in a first position for permitting selective rotational movement and wherein the low density plastic material of the first member contacts the low density plastic material of the second member in a second position for resisting rotational movement between the first and second members. 
     
     
       4. An armrest as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the second member comprises a padded upper armrest rotatable about said vertical axis of rotation. 
     
     
       5. An armrest as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the first member has an upper end and comprises a padded armrest at the upper end rotatable about the vertical axis of rotation. 
     
     
       6. An armrest as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the first member is attached to the chair at the lower end of the first member. 
     
     
       7. An armrest as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said hinge damper resists rotational movement of the first member relative to the second member about said vertical axis of rotation. 
     
     
       8. An armrest as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second portions include at least one wing and each recess includes at least one slot for receiving the wings of the first and second portions. 
     
     
       9. An armrest for a chair having:
 (a) a first member connected to the chair; 
 (b) a second member selectively rotatable relative the first member; 
 (c) a torque resistor disposed between the first and second members for resisting the rotational movement between the first and second members, about a vertical axis of rotation; 
 (d) wherein one of the first and second members include low density plastic material resisting movement therebetween; 
 (e) wherein said hinge damper resists rotational movement of the first member relative to the second member about said vertical axis of rotation; 
 (f) wherein the torque resistor comprises a first portion engageable with the first member and a second portion engageable with the second member, and a shaft disposed between the first and second portions; 
 (g) wherein the second member comprises an armrest having a recess for receiving the second portion; 
 (h) wherein the first member has a recess for receiving the first portion; 
 (i) wherein each of the first and second portions includes wings and each recess includes slots for receiving the wings of the first and second portions. 
 
     
     
       10. An armrest as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the strength of the torque resistor is selected to resist rotational movement at a selected level when the first member is pushed against the second member. 
     
     
       11. A method of rotating an armrest about a vertical support connected to a chair comprising:
 (a) disposing torque resistor means between the support and the armrest for resisting rotational movement about a vertical axis of rotation when the armrest is pushed against the support, and for permitting the rotation of the armrest relative to the support beyond a selected level where the torque resistor means has a first portion engageable with the support and a second portion engageable with the armrest, and a shaft disposed between the first and second portions, and wherein the armrest includes an armrest recess for receiving the second portion and the support includes a support recess for receiving the first portion; 
 (b) first engaging protrusion extending from the first portion engageable with the support recess and a second engaging protrusion engageable with the armrest recess; 
 (c) and wherein each said first engaging protrusion include wings and said second engaging protrusion include wings and each said support recess and armrest recess include slots for receiving the wings respectively. 
 
     
     
       12. A method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the chair includes two armrests, each having a torque member means and the strength of each torque resistor is selected for a desired resistance to rotation, about said vertical axis of rotation. 
     
     
       13. A method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the strength of resistance of each of said armrest is different from the other.